New Challenges For Pakistan's Musharraf

Arch Political Rival To Try Again To Reenter Country; Commonwealth Membership Suspended

(CBS/AP)  Pakistan's military ruler faced new challenges Friday after an opposition party said its exiled leader would make another attempt to return home and the Commonwealth suspended the country's membership until it restores democracy.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry condemned the banishment as "unreasonable and unjustified" and said the 53-nation body comprised of Britain and its former colonies had failed to appreciate Pakistan's "serious internal crisis."

The return of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from Saudi Arabia would bolster Musharraf's opponents ahead of Jan. 8 parliamentary elections, and complicate pro-Western rival Benazir Bhutto's bid to return to power.

In repeated comments from Bush administration officials, Washington has called for "moderate" political forces within Pakistan to join together. The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan had no comment Friday on the implications of Sharif's potential reappearance.

One Western diplomatic official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic, told CBS News Friday that Sharif's return to Pakistan - if it happens, and lasts through the elections - "could potentially be a very good thing," in the long-term.

However, the official also said it was crucial to avoid adding any further tension to the present political situation in Pakistan.

Sharif's plan was announced Thursday, hours after the Supreme Court, with judges appointed by Musharraf, swept away the last legal obstacles to his new five-year term as president. The Election Commission was freed to certify Musharraf's re-election by legislators last month.

The U.S.-allied leader was expected to give up his dual, and powerful, post as army chief within days in hopes of cooling domestic and foreign criticism over his suspension of the constitution and assumption of emergency powers three weeks ago.

But discontent has intensified this year over Musharraf's rule, which began with a coup that ousted Sharif as prime minister in 1999. Sharif is now a vehement critic of the general and leader of one of the two main opposition parties.

Presidential spokesman Rashid Qureshi declined to say what Musharraf would do if Sharif tried to enter Pakistan. Sharif was swiftly deported to Saudi Arabia when he tried to return in September.

That expulsion was supported by Saudi Arabia's government, but Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, president of Musharraf's ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q party, said Sharif now had "some deal" with Saudi authorities.

"We are ready to face him and he has to face the people" in the parliamentary elections, Hussain said on Dawn News television.

Musharraf has insisted that Sharif stay out of Pakistan until after the elections, which the West hopes will produce a moderate government able to turn the tide against Islamic militants who have shown increased strength in the tribal region along the border with Afghanistan.

Speculation that Saudi Arabia was willing to let Sharif go home had been rife since Musharraf made a surprise trip to Riyadh, the Saudi capital, for talks with King Abdullah on Tuesday.

Sharif was to meet the king on Friday, his party said.

Sharif's party said he was coming to Pakistan to lead the party in the elections. He has been calling for parties to boycott the vote, but other rival opposition groups haven't taken up the idea.

The re-emergence of a heavyweight rival creates a new headache for Musharraf as he tries to defend the emergency powers he decreed Nov. 3 against stiff criticism at home and abroad, including from the United States, a key provider of aid.

Musharraf, seen at left, imposed the emergency just before the previous Supreme Court was to rule on complaints that the constitution bars the army chief from running for elected office. He then removed independent-minded judges and named loyalists to the court.

Authorities also blocked independent TV news and arrested thousands of lawyers, opposition party supporters and human rights activists.

All but one news channel is back on air and the government says most detainees were freed this week. And Thursday's court ruling meant Musharraf could meet another demand of his critics by resigning his military post and governing as a civilian president. Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum said that could happen this weekend.

The Commonwealth, a 53-nation group composed mainly of Britain and its former colonies, voted at a meeting in Uganda to suspend Pakistan's membership because Musharraf failed to meet its Thursday deadline to lift the crackdown and quit as army chief.

The group "welcomes the release of detainees, but is concerned about the arrest of journalists and lawyers," its secretary-general, Don McKinnon, told reporters.

Pakistan was last kicked out of the organization in 1999 after Musharraf seized power in a coup. It took the country five years to be reinstated.

State-run Pakistan Television on Friday read out a message of support for Musharraf from his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, who said he "completely" understood Musharraf's efforts to stabilize Pakistan.

"I firmly believe that, under the leadership of your excellency, Pakistan is able to properly handle the internal and external challenges, realize smooth transition and continue to maintain stability and development," Hu was quoted as saying.

[b-easy63]

Forget about democracy in that part of the world.
Just look at that ******** Iraq.
Posted by jerr11 at 11:54 AM : Nov 23, 2007


It was our meddling to make Iraq a "democracy" that made it a ******** in the first place--we tend to make huge messes then blame either our victims or the rest of the world and expect them to clean them up. Nothing like going in and destroying a place then getting mad because the locals won''t help us clean it up, right? LOL

[b-easy63]

"The re-emergence of a heavyweight rival creates a new headache for Musharraf as he tries to defend the emergency powers he decreed Nov. 3 against stiff criticism at home and abroad, including from the United States, a key provider of aid. "

***************************

Stiff criticism indeed. Britain has back theirs up with a suspension that could result in the loss of monetary aid packages from GB. While America keeps saying they do not approve but do not stop the flow of milk from the ol'' money titttt. Guess we never learn. We reward illegals and wonder why they keep coming no matter what our laws or enforcement. (duh). And now, we reward another dictator and when he turns on us like Saddam did or gets ousted the people hate us and want to retaliate against us due to us backing sadistic puppets (like Mubarak, King Abdullah, Shah of Iran, SAddam, Marcus, Noriega) we an scratch our heads and assume they hate us because we are free--instead of what we, and our funds have financed among them. LOL

[jerr11]

RON PAUL IS THE SPAM WAY
What we need is a President who will show us the way. Not the old way. Not the same way, but a SPAM way. Think about this for a minute. What if we send out billions of spam from South Korea? They''ve been there for 50+ years. What if we quit worrying about making sense, but instead, realized that we could spam the world? What if we sent all this spam to the Middle-East, and brought them all home? What if we realistically sent out a National Spam, and paid attention to REALLY DOING SOMETHING about sending out more spam? These are the ideas of Presidential candidate, Ron Paul. He''s a ten term Congressman and a physician who has sent out over 4,000 spam. He''s an intellectual who''s published four books, three of which are devoted entirely to spam and one on how to sound like a dead fu*ck. He was raised on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania as a pious Lutheran, but now he just send out spam on Sundays. Paul is given to sending spam on other days too Whenever he recollects the spam he sent on Tuesdays he laments, "They were gung-ho. I''ve often thought about how many of that spam never came back." Candidates with the high level of spamming ability and proven track record of sending out billions of spam, Congressman Paul has always demonstrated only come around once in a lifetime, if we''re lucky.

[fairprophet]

A FOREIGN POLICY OF FREEDOM
All of the other presidential candidates want to continue our illegal police action in Iraq indefinitely, and they do not rule out a preemptive (nuclear) first strike against Iran. Conversely, Ron Paul voted against our (undeclared) war in Iraq, which was sold to us with lies. The area is more dangerous now than when we entered it. We destroyed a regime hated by our direct enemies--the jihadists, and created thousands of new recruits for them. The war in Iraq has cost more than 3,500 American lives and almost a trillion dollars. We need a leader in the White House who will ensure this never happens again. Both Jefferson and Washington warned us about entangling ourselves in the affairs of other nations. Today, we have 750 foreign bases and troops in 130 countries. We are spread so thin that we have too few troops defending America. And now, there are new calls for a draft. We can continue to fund and fight no-win police actions around the globe, or we can refocus on securing our borders against illegal aliens who are invading us from the South. No war should ever be fought without a Declaration of War voted upon by the Congress, as required by The Constitution. Under no circumstances should the U.S. again go to war as the result of a resolution that comes from an unelected, foreign body, such as the United Nations. Too often, we give foreign aid and intervene on behalf of governments that are despised. Then, we become despised.

[fairprophet]

MORE TROOPS AND VETERANS SUPPORT RON PAUL
On Veteran''s Day, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul today addressed a crowd of over 5,000 enthusiastic veterans and supporters in Philadelphia. The Veteran''s Day weekend rally took place at Independence Mall. Thousands of veterans and their friends and families heard country music superstar Rockie Lynne open the event for the Texas congressman. John Holland, the founder of a leading advocacy organization for troops, veterans, and POW/MIAs, delivered an enthusiastic endorsement of Congressman Paul, before the congressman addressed the crowd. The rally coincided with the launch of the Veterans for Paul Coalition, a group composed entirely of American war veterans. "Dr. Paul''s support among veterans is extremely high," said Paul campaign spokesman Joe Seehusen. "These great patriots who have fought for our country know that only Dr. Paul''s foreign policy of peace and secure borders can guarantee true national security, and they want him fighting for our country''s freedom." Congressman Paul was himself a Captain in the Air Force who served as a flight surgeon during the "totally unnecessary and illegal" Vietnam war. He receives more campaign contributions from former and active military and military affiliates than all of the other 2008 presidential candidates combined.

[fairprophet]

TO APATHETIC AMERICANS
Voter disenfranchisement and apathy infects the heart of our Republic. Get off your couch, put your remote control down, and become active in your nation''s political process. The pathetically few people that do vote in this country, a.k.a., "the ruling class", who currently get to decide under what kind of conditions (and Laws) you and your family will live, are certainly involved. I can assure you of that. In fact, the ruling class would be much happier if you would just continue to stay home and watch TV in your pleasantly distracted and brainwashed, stupor. That way they can continue to elect their political ****** to office, and continue to maintain their grip on 100% of the political power they currently own in this country. If you voted (God Forbid), it would cancel-out their vote, and they would lose control. They can''t have that. Now can they? If you don''t vote, my friends, you''re nothing but an unwashed "Pleb" to those that do, and the ruling class should rightfully consider themselves superior to you in every way. They do, after all, have all the power, while you have none. If you''re too apathetic and powerless to do anything for yourself more time-consuming than driving down to Mickey D''s to buy a milk shake in order to sieze control of your life, and your country''s destiny, then perhaps you deserve to be ruled over like the "Pleb" that you then are. The time to act is now. The time for political revolution has come. The time for Ron Paul is NOW!

[fairprophet]

YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES
America is tipping way too far back in her easy chair. Something BIG is about to happen, and I predict this upcoming 2008 Presidential Election will be extremely pivotal. I''m not going to name any candidates. You probably already know who my favorite one is. But let me make my point absolutely clear: If you think times are boring, think again. If you think the future is predictable, think again. My advice to everyone who reads this is to be thoughtful. Trust only that wisdom which is your own. 90% of mainstream media in this country is controlled by fewer than 20 different organizations. Unfortunately, they, like the sold-out political ****** who pretend tp serve us in Washington, were bought and paid for by the military-industrial-pharmacutical complex decades ago. Therefore, mainsteam media will paint pictures they want to paint, and people will open their minds to pictures they want to see. So, be skeptical. Be wise. Research issues and talking points on your own, and share what you learn with those you love. The future of your family tree may lay in the balance.

[fairprophet]

U.S. WAR WITH IRAN?
When I consider the prospect of a War with Iran, I wonder whether or not another major power might be inclined to side with Iran and oppose us. 10% of China''s exports go to Iran and 12% of Germany''s. Also, many countries, including China, are heavily dependent on the 2,836,000 barrels of oil Iran exports everyday. Not a problem. I''m sure those folks won''t mind riding bikes until the war is over. As far as the Iranians are concerned, I''m sure they''re just dying (no pun intended) to be invaded, er, I mean "liberated" by Americans, considering the horrid 70% approval rating of Ahmadinejad and the terrible $8,700 gross domestic product per capita there (8.6% better than China). I''m sure we''ll be welcomed in the streets after we "shock and awe" their all important looking buildings to Jahannum and back. When I compare U.S. military numbers with Iran''s, what I find is truly alarming. The U.S. has 2.37 million soldiers ready for combat. Let''s compare that with little ol'' Iran, which has more soldiers available for combat than any country in the entire world. Actually, Iran has more combat-ready soldiers (11.7 million) than China and Russia combined. Talk about hell! The bottom line is that America can''t even handle Iraq. At one point, we thought we could rush in, smite some nubs with dirks and bubble on back home in time to catch the next season of American Idol, but it didn''t quite work-out that way. Did it? With Iran, reality is going to hurt a lot more.

[fairprophet]

RON PAUL IS THE NEW WAY
What we need is a President who will show us the way. Not the old way. Not the same way, but a NEW way. Think about this for a minute. What if we pulled all of our troops out of South Korea? They''ve been there for 50+ years. What if we quit worrying about Iran, but instead, realized that its having a nuclear weapon will not mean the end of the world? What if we pulled all of our troops out of the Middle-East, and brought them all home? What if we realistically addressed the National Debt, and paid attention to REALLY DOING SOMETHING about stopping illegal immigration? These are the ideas of Presidential candidate, Ron Paul. He''s a ten term Congressman and a physician who has delivered over 4,000 babies. He''s an intellectual who''s published four books, three of which are devoted entirely to sound economics and one to foreign policy. He was raised on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania as a pious Lutheran, but now he attends a Baptist church. Paul is given to mulling things over morally. Whenever he recollects the helicopter pilots he treated as an Air Force Flight Surgeon (Captain) during the Vietnam War, a war which he now says was "totally unnecessary and illegal," he laments, "They were gung-ho. I''ve often thought about how many of those people never came back." Candidates with the high level of personal integrity and proven track record of adherence to The Constitution, Congressman Paul has always demonstrated only come around once in a lifetime, if we''re lucky.

[fairprophet]

WERE HAVING A TEA PARTY! YOU''RE INVITED
As we all know, freedom isn''t free in this country. Therefore, in the wake of our successful fundraising event of November 5th, in which we all came together to raise $4.2 million dollars for Ron Paul''s campaign, we''ve set yet another date for an even bigger fundraiser. This one will take place on December 16th: a very important date for people who love freedom and hate tyranny to ring the Liberty Bell, and let our sold-out, globalist, political ****** and their mainstream media enablers know that good Americans are mad as hell, and that we''re not going to take it anymore. December 16th is the 224th aniversary of The Boston Tea Party: an act of protest by the American colonists against the tyranny of Great Britain where the Sons of Liberty boarded British ships and dumped crates of tea overboard into Boston Harbor. It was a key event which helped to spark the American Revolution, and we hope this event will, likewise, add additional spark to our own 21st Century political revolution to restore peace, prosperity and freedom to our Republic by helping elect a President whose record of adherance to The Constitution is unmatched by anyone in American politics. Please join us this December 16th for the largest one-day political donation event in history. Our goal is to bring together 100,000 people to donate $100 each, creating a one day donation total of $10,000,000. The time to act is now. The time for Ron Paul is NOW! TeaParty07.com

[fairprophet]

HOPE FOR AMERICA: PRESIDENT RON PAUL

-- No more meddling in other country''s political affairs
-- No more aggressive military actions overseas
-- No more torture prisons
-- No more pseudo-wars like the "War on Drugs"
-- No more IRS and unconstitutional income taxes
-- No more Federal Reserve (the group of private banks which owns our government)
-- No more erosion of Social Security to pay for militarization
-- No more U.N. (one world government) participation
-- No more NAFTA, CAFTA, WTO or GATT (globalist trade cartels)
-- No more North American Union (loss of U.S. sovereignty)
-- No more federal gun control laws
-- No more illegal aliens pouring-in over our country''s borders
-- No more illegal aliens allowed to roam freely in our streets
-- No more national ID cards (Real ID Act)
-- No more government invasion of your privacy
-- No more federal Laws which force you to take unwanted injections
-- No more federal Laws which are not authorized by The Constitution
-- No more federal erosion of State sovereignty
-- No more unlimited federal government

They don''t call him "Dr. No" for no reason. The Doctor is in! Find-out what CBS hides from you, and join us in this 21st Century political revolution at ronpaul2008.com

"Those who expect to reap the blessing of freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine

"Ron Paul doesn''t represent your Father''s school of political thought. He represents your Founding Fathers."
- Me

[denn034]

The more I see and hear about Musharraf''s emergency the more I don''t like it.

[duffyn]

I know one thing about bush. I trust not one thing he says or does. Even if it looks good, it''s just some smoke screen for something we don''t want.

[jerr11]

I''m all for Musharraf and I''m not being ironic.

They''re all corrupt over there. Sharif is as corrupt as Musharraf as Bhutto.

We''re not talking about democracy here. You topple Musharraf and replace him with Sharif, you''re just swapping one corrupt dictator with another.

The smart thing to do is stay out of the mess and hope Musharraf can hold on.

Stability is what we need, for the sake of those real WMDs.

Forget about democracy in that part of the world.

Just look at that ******** Iraq.

[realpatriot1]

brianbwb,

I''m not sure, I''m hoping.

I''m absolutely certain that Bush supports him. If a truly democratic government took bavck their country from AQ & the Taliban and Bin Laden was captured alive his story would bring down Bush.

[brianbwb-2009]

Don''t be too sure, behind closed doors, Bush is also backing him

[realpatriot1]

The brutal henchmen of Tien An Men Square support the henchman of Karachi. What a surprize!

Musharif will eventually meet the same fate as Mussolini.